Two congressmen join drumbeat against Holder as contempt proceedings gear up

As House Republicans gear up for contempt of Congress proceedings against Attorney General Eric Holder for his failure to comply with all 22 categories of the congressional Operation Fast and Furious subpoena served on him in October, two more House members have expressed “no confidence” in his leadership.

Illinois Rep. Aaron Schock and Florida Rep. Tom Rooney, both Republicans, have signed on to House Resolution 490, the “no confidence” resolution Arizona Republican Rep. Paul Gosar introduced late last year.

There are now 110 cosponsors of Gosar’s resolution. A total of 127 House members have demanded Holder’s resignation, signed Gosar’s resolution. or both. Three U.S. senators, two sitting governors and presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney have also called on Holder to step down.

Gosar announced the new cosponsors Monday evening via Twitter, adding that he plans to continue fighting for accountability in the wake of Operation Fast and Furious.

I will continue to fight for justice until all answers are given to the families of victims & those still living in fear. #FastandFurious

Gosar will lead a “special order” session on the House floor Thursday, giving members a chance to talk through an official channel about the failed gunwalking program, the ensuing congressional investigations and Holder’s failure to comply with lawfully issued subpoenas.

The special order speeches will come as California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, begins moving toward holding Holder in contempt of Congress.

Issa subpoenaed 22 categories of information about the evolving firearms scandal on Oct. 12, and issued a draft of a contempt citation last week. In a briefing paper accompanying the draft citation, Issa said Holder’s Department of Justice hasn’t “completely fulfilled” any of his committee’s subpoenaed document categories. (RELATED: Full coverage of Operation Fast and Furious)

Holder, Issa wrote, hasn’t provided any documents reflecting 13 of those categories, including some that reference him personally. And regarding the nine subpoena categories for which Holder has provided some documents, the attorney general is far from compliant, as TheDC documented last week.